Friday, December 6, 2013

Lesson #1 in comedy

"Owen," I said, "I don't understand why you like this show. It doesn't make any sense."

We were watching Oscar's Asicks ("Oscar's Oasis for those of you who are technical about words).

This is a ridiculous show where unpleasant animals in the desert fight about stuff and get hurt in a Wile E. Coyote kind of way. They don't speak, or do anything of substance. There is literally no dialogue, just pratfalls and old-timey cartoon torment. Entire episodes will be taken up with a lizard trying to get a strawberry and the buzzard that stands in his way.

It bothers me.

You can't even pretend it's educational.

"Like right now, Owen. All of a sudden there are a bunch of chickens. Why are there chickens?"

He doesn't even move his eyes from the screen as he says, in a tone that clearly conveys he is exhausted by my stupidity, "Because chickens are always funny."